Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1887-10-12
THE LIQUOR TRAFFIC.
Proposed Amendments 70 the License
Regulations.

The District Commissioners will shortly hold
board meeting. at which Commissioner Webb will
submit several important amendments to the regu.
latons for the issuance OF licenses for the sale of
liquors which he has been engaged in preparing
for some time. Experience has demonstrated the
necessity Of these regulations. He thinks and he
believes that they will enable the municipal au.
thor1ties to deal more inteligently with the ques-
lions which invariably arise whenever an applica-
ton is made for q license.
THE PRESENT REGULATIONS,
made under authority granted by section 435 OF
the Revised Statutes relating to the District OF
Columbia, makes 1t unlawful for any person or
persons keeping an ordinary restaurant, saloon or
0.ner place where spirituous liquors are sold
within the District to give, SELL CT dispose OF any
intoxicating drinks without a license approved by
the board or District Commissioners. The approval
OF such Licenses must precede the sale OF liquors by
The regulations adopted by the Commissioners,
Octooer 81 1854 forbid the issuance OF licenses TO
the Following classes OF persons:
l. To any person within four hundred feet of q pub
lie school house owned by the District Of Columbia
been AMY gsFfy " whS dnrns the prscens year has
sodsPP ~ liquor or ntoxicatps drink 70 any
wearing the nDifor% me Of .neS solder
Y uneer caunt Any person SO convicted. or who shall
named parties to drink any spirtuous liquor or
icating drinks his premises shall forfeit the
drink which he may then hold.a liau0f' A"0 A0A''Ans
D. 10 any party convicted of selling giving liquor
4. To any person who has been convicted OF selling
Sy
n,, 10 any party who has been convtcIed Of selling
nauor without license and has not paid the fine iu-
g 10 snv party Keeping place where idle. noisy.
d'sorderly, or suspicious characters congreeste.
2. To any person sh Ill be shown to the satsfsc-
uon OF the Commissioners to have knowingly given or
sod nqaor to any confirmed drunkard. or to any in
toxicated person.
g. 70 any premises upon which gambling has been
allowed. or which are used as a bawdy- house.
WHERE THE REC JLAT1ONs ARE DEFECTIVE.
Commissioner Webb believes the regulations de-
fectfve in not providing against multiplicity OF
barrooms In particular locality or the establish
ment OF liquor saloons In neighborhoods where
they are not wanted and are entirely out OF place.
one OF his amendments will cover this point and
also will require the police In their reports the
commissioners upon applications for licenses 10
give full and complete Information In relation 10
the applicant and the character OF the business
ne conducts especially whether or not IL is desra-
pie he should be permitted TO do business in the
place mentioned.
TEST CASE WANTED.
1t has long been question whether the Com
missioners have the right to refuse to approve an
application for licenses when all the require
ments OF law have been fulfilled and 1t has been
held that the law only gives the Commissioners q
ministerial junction and not the right to arbi-
trar1ly decide that an application shall not be
granted. This question has never been decided In
a court OF law, and the Commissioners say they
glad If some one 70 whom they have refused a
license would appeal to the court and ask for a
writ OF mandamus compelling them to issue a
license.